Sen. Doherty's bad choice of words

Name-calling is usually a sign that the person uttering the attack may be utterly without ideas.

That seems to be the case with state Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren). He had a chance to offer a thoughtful explanation for his opposition to restoring $7.5 million to family planning clinics. Instead, he slimed Planned Parenthood at a rally on the Statehouse steps, right before the Senate voted on Monday to restore the funds to the state budget.

“Nobody has any problem trying to have no affiliation with nefarious organizations such as the Nazis or apartheid regimes,” Doherty said. “But somehow, we’re asked to use our tax dollars to support these type of organizations.”

Awkward syntax, awful content.

Anyone with a sense of history, perspective and proportion should be appalled. Invoking two of the vilest regimes to attack Planned Parenthood reveals nothing about that organization. It does say plenty about Doherty’s willingness to twist history and stir fear for his own political ends. The next time anyone bemoans the lack of civil discourse, Doherty’s astounding statement should be Exhibit A.

He owes apologies to the women who rely on Planned Parenthood for primary and gynecological care, pre-natal care, cancer screenings and birth control counseling. And he owes apologies to the survivors of Nazi Germany and those forced to live under apartheid in South Africa. Doherty’s comparison cheapened two of the great tragedies of world history.

The senator served neither his constituents nor his cause with his remarks.